Adenia ovata W.J.de Wilde

Passifloraceae, R. and A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 1·5–2·5 × 1 cm., obovoid-oblong, subacute at the apex, with smooth coriaceous pericarp.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds unknown.

Morphology General Habit

Herb 5–10 cm. high, with napiform warty tuber.

Morphology Stem

Stems annual or partly perennial, 1–3 cm. long, with internodes 0·2–1 cm. long; leaves ± appressed to the ground.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina 7–14 × 5–12 cm., broadly ovate to subcircular, broadly rounded and sometimes minutely apiculate at the apex, margin entire, broadly rounded and shortly cuneate at the base, subcoriaceous, brownish- or reddish-green or greyish-green above, paler, greyish-green and densely purplish-red mottled beneath, with (3)5(7) main nerves from the base and with 3–4(7) pairs of nerves from the midrib and distinct reticulation; petiole 0·1–0·4 cm. long.

Morphology General Glands

Glands of the lamina-base 0 or 2, 0·5–1 mm. in diameter, on the margin near the insertion of the petiole; glands of the lamina 0.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules 2–4 mm. long, narrowly triangular, acute, entire or remotely dentate or dissected.

Morphology General Tendrils

Tendrils 0.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes 1–10-flowered in male, hermaphrodite and female, the flowers cream; peduncle up to 0·4 cm. long; bracts and bracteoles 1·5–3·5 mm. long, narrowly triangular to linear, acute, denticulate; pedicels 2–5 mm. long in the hermaphrodite and female flower.

sex Male

Male flower: buds up to 10 mm. long; anthers as in the hermaphrodite flower, 3–3·5 mm. long incl. the blunt, papillate apiculum c. 1 mm. long; vestigial ovary 1–1·5 mm. long.

sex Hermaphrodite

Hermaphrodite flower: (14)18–22 × 4–7(8) mm. (incl. the (4)5–7 mm. long stipe), tubular-infundibuliform; hypanthium 1·5–2 mm. long; calyx-tube 6–8 mm. long; calyx-lobes 3–5(7) mm. long, ovate-oblong, obtuse, fimbriate; petals 7–9 × 1–1·5 mm., lanceolate, subacute, (l)3-nerved, fimbriate-papillate in the upper 1/2, inserted at the same level as the corona, this consisting of hairs 1–2 mm. long; stamen-filaments 4–5 mm. long, ± long-connate at the base, inserted at the base of the hypanthium; anthers (1·5)2–4 × 0·75–1·25 mm. incl. the obtuse papillate apiculum 0·5–1·25 mm. long; disk-glands 0·33–1 mm. long; pistil 7–10 mm. long; gynophore 1·5–3 mm. long; ovary 4–5 × 2–3 mm., oblong-ellipsoid, usually finely warty; styles connate for c. 1 mm., the arms 1–1·5 mm., ending in subglobular woolly-papillate stigmas.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flower: (12)17–19 × 4–6(8) mm. (incl. the 4–5(6) mm. long stipe), tubular-infundibuliform; hypanthium c. 1·5 mm. long; calyx-tube 5–6 mm. long; calyx-lobes 3·5–5 mm. long, oblong, obtuse, subentire; petals (4)5–6 × 1–1·5(2) mm., obovate to oblanceolate, obtuse, (1)3-nerved, finely fimbriate in the upper 1/2, inserted at the same level as the corona, this consisting of hairs 1–1·5 mm. long; staminodes c. 4 mm. long, with the filaments shortly connate at the base and vestigial anthers c. 1 mm. long; disk-glands c. 0·5 mm. long; pistil 7–8 mm. long; gynophore 1–1·5 mm. long; ovary c. 4 × 2 mm., ellipsoid-oblong; styles connate at the base, with the arms 1–1·5 mm. long, ending in subglobular woolly-papillate stigmas. Hermaphrodite flower: (14)18–22 × 4–7(8) mm. (incl. the (4)5–7 mm. long stipe), tubular-infundibuliform; hypanthium 1·5–2 mm. long; calyx-tube 6–8 mm. long; calyx-lobes 3–5(7) mm. long, ovate-oblong, obtuse, fimbriate; petals 7–9 × 1–1·5 mm., lanceolate, subacute, (l)3-nerved, fimbriate-papillate in the upper 1/2, inserted at the same level as the corona, this consisting of hairs 1–2 mm. long; stamen-filaments 4–5 mm. long, ± long-connate at the base, inserted at the base of the hypanthium; anthers (1·5)2–4 × 0·75–1·25 mm. incl. the obtuse papillate apiculum 0·5–1·25 mm. long; disk-glands 0·33–1 mm. long; pistil 7–10 mm. long; gynophore 1·5–3 mm. long; ovary 4–5 × 2–3 mm., oblong-ellipsoid, usually finely warty; styles connate for c. 1 mm., the arms 1–1·5 mm., ending in subglobular woolly-papillate stigmas. Male flower: buds up to 10 mm. long; anthers as in the hermaphrodite flower, 3–3·5 mm. long incl. the blunt, papillate apiculum c. 1 mm. long; vestigial ovary 1–1·5 mm. long.

sex Female

Female flower: (12)17–19 × 4–6(8) mm. (incl. the 4–5(6) mm. long stipe), tubular-infundibuliform; hypanthium c. 1·5 mm. long; calyx-tube 5–6 mm. long; calyx-lobes 3·5–5 mm. long, oblong, obtuse, subentire; petals (4)5–6 × 1–1·5(2) mm., obovate to oblanceolate, obtuse, (1)3-nerved, finely fimbriate in the upper 1/2, inserted at the same level as the corona, this consisting of hairs 1–1·5 mm. long; staminodes c. 4 mm. long, with the filaments shortly connate at the base and vestigial anthers c. 1 mm. long; disk-glands c. 0·5 mm. long; pistil 7–8 mm. long; gynophore 1–1·5 mm. long; ovary c. 4 × 2 mm., ellipsoid-oblong; styles connate at the base, with the arms 1–1·5 mm. long, ending in subglobular woolly-papillate stigmas.